Means and method of raising liquid from wells



Dec. 15, 1931. N. H RICKER MEANS AND METHOD OF RAISING LIQUTD FROM WELLS Filed May 4, 1929 Fig. 2

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itriented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN H. RICKER, OLE- HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HUGHES TOOL COMPANY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS MEAN S AND METHOD OF RAISING- LIQ'UID FROM WELLS Application filed May 4, 1929. Serial No. 860,844.

My invention relates to the pumping of deep wells by means of fluid pressure. It is devised particularly for use with devices for raising liquids by means of air or gas pressure.

It is an object of the invention tov economize in the amount of gas or air necessary for lifting the fluid.

I further desire to obviate the necessity of heating the gaseous fluid employed in pumping by this method.

The invention involves the explosion of the pressure fluid andan object is to provide a simple apparatus whereby the supply of fluid and the control thereof may be automatically accomplished. The device is adapted for use particularly with air lift apparatus such as is shown in the co-pending application of Harold W. Fletcher, Serial No. 355,598, filed April 16th, 1929.

In the drawings herewith, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a fluid lift apparatus employing my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagramamtic View shown the electrical means for operating the spar 1n exploding the charge. I

My device is illustrated as an auxiliary attachment for an air lift device for use in well pumping operations. There is an outer casing 1 which is set in the well in the usual manner. Said casing has a casin head 2 thereon of special construction. T ere is a liquid outlet 3 thereon at one side. I may fit within this outlet, a plurality of transverse partitions or walls 6 of metal gauze to prevent danger of fire.

On the casing head is also an upper connecting pipe 4 and a lower pipe 5 both of which are connected with a pressure fluid.

regulator 8.

Within the casing 1, are two concentric pipes 9 and 10, both of which are suspended from a nipple 11 which fits closely within the casing head, and is supported upon a flange or shoulder 12 therein. The pipe 9 is Connected an u ward extension 13 upon the nipple 1 1, whic projects into the upper portion of the casing head, and is housed by a cap or bull plug 16 secured to said casin head. The extension 13 is also closed at ts upper end by a cap 15. Lateral outlets from the member 13 are provided by Way of slots 14 therein which allow discharge of liquid to the outlet 3, and to the regulator pipe 4.

The pipe 9, at its lower end is connected by a swaged nipple 17, to the pipe 18 extending into the liquid in the well. The lower end of the eduction tube connects with a block or casting which fits within the pipe 9 above the nipple 17 and has passages 19 and 20 therein, the passage 19 allowing inlet of pressure fluid to the lower end of the tube 10; and the passage 20, allowing inlet to said tube of liquid from the well.

At the lower end of the eduction tube is shown a plunger 21, having an upwardly closing valve 22 therein, 'said valve being normally open to allow liquid to pass above it as will be understood from the drawings.

Below the plunger in the passage 20 is a standing valve 23, which controls the flow of liquids therein.

, The regulator 8 is the one disclosed in the copending application of Fletcher referred to. It has a valve chamber 24 therein, which has a fluid pipe 25 discharging into it. The

outlet from the valve chamber to the inlet pipe 5 is controlled by a valve 26, which is provided with a spring, tending to unseat the valve 26 with a predetermined pressure. Above the valve 26, is a cylinder having a piston 27 therein. Said cylinder is connected by pipe 4 with the casing head as previously noted. The piston has a downwardly directed stem to close valve 26.

Said valve 26 has a downwardly extending stem 28 which projects through a stuffing box to the outside of the regulator and into a switch box 29. A chamber 30 below the valve makes connection at one side with the pipe 5 and at its other side, it connects with a bypass 31, leading to the supply pipe 25. The air and gas supply passes from a storage tank, not shown, through pipe 32, and past a check valve 34 to the pipe 25. A carburetor 35 may be placed in the pipe 33, said carburetor receiving fuel by way of a fuel pipe 36. The switch box and its connections are shown in Fig. 2. It has a walking beam or lever 37 pivoted between its ends:. Said lever has one end connected to a dash pot 38 which acts to delay the movement thereof.

The other end of said lever is connected with a tension spring 39, tending to raise the opposite end of the lever.

A switch is formed by a contact member 40 on the lever tending to make contact with a terminal 41, which is connected by Way of a battery 42, and an electrical spark coil 43 to the lever 37, and to a spark plug 44 in the pipe 5. The stem 28 of the valve 26, when said valve is in closed position, tends to hold said switch open, but when said valve opens, the spring 39 closes the switch, and a spark occurs upon the plug 44 in the passage 5.

In the operation of the device, the valve 26 is closed by the pressure of fluid in the pipe 25. A'small leak of gas through the by-pass 31 gradually flows into the well, and where the proper load of liquid has not yet accumulated above the plunger 21, the air or gas will bubble up through the liquid in the eduction tube and escape. As the liquid head increases, however, the back pressure in the air will increase until a pressure has been built-up in the pipe 9 and the chamber 30 in the regulator sufficient to act with the spring below the valve to unseat the valve 26 and allow the full line pressure to enter the well. This will close the valve in the plunger and the standing valve 23 and start the load of liquid to the surface.

, As the valve is opened, the stem 28 will be elevated and allow the switch 4041 to close. This action will be delayed by the dashpot so that a predetermined time will elapse after the switch has been released before it will close. The space between pipes 9 and 10 has already been filled with the air and fuel mixture. This lag in the forming of the spark in the stream of mixed fuel and air is sufiicient to allow the plunger and its load to be started toward the surface, and to fill the lower end of the eduction tube with the explosive mixture before the explosion of the gas is accomplished. The explosion will close the check valve 34 and by expansion of the' fuel and air will raise the plunger and its load of liquid and discharge the liquid at the surface through the pipe 3. The gauze in the outlet will prevent any danger from fire in the outlet due to the explosion.

The discharge of the load at the surface will move the piston 27 down and the pin on said piston will contact with and close the valve 26 and the full line pressure will again enter the valve chamber 24, and retain the valve closed as before.

\V'hcre this device is employed in oil wells, there will frequently be suflicient gas present to form an explosive mixture without the use of much, if any, other fuelfor thus operating the well. The operation in this manner will greatly economize in the amount of compressed air required in the pumping operation. The operation will be entirely automatic, and the apparatus may be regulated to obtain relatively high speeds of operation.

While I have illustrated the invention as applied to a particular air lift device, I wish it understood that it is capable of application to various modifications of air lift structures and I do not limit the invention to this particular use.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a pressure fluid operated pump, an eduction tube. a plunger slidable freely therein, means to allow flow of liquid to said tube above said plunger, means to conduct an inflammable gaseous pressure fluid below said plunger, and means to ignite said gaseous pressure fluid.

2. In a pressure fluid operated pump, an eduction tube, a plunger slidable freely therein, means to allow flow of liquid to said tube above said plunger, means to conduct an inflammable gaseous pressure fluid below said plunger and means automatically operated through the fluid pressure in the well, to ignite said gaseous pressure fluid.

3. In a pressure fluid operated pump, an eduction tube, a plunger slidable freely therein, means to allow flow of liquid to said tube above said plunger, means to conduct an inflammable gaseous pressure fluid below said plunger, and means to ignite said gaseous pressure fluid and close off the entrance of liquid to said tube.

4. In a pressure fluid operated pump, an eduction tube, a plunger slidable freely therein, means to allow flow of liquid to said tube above said plunger, means to conduct an inflammable gaseous pressure fluid below said plunger, a valve to control the flow of said pressure fluid, means to open said valve responsive to the head of liquidin said tube and means vto ignite said gaseous pressure fluid.

5. In a pressure fluid operatedpump, an eduction tube, a plunger freely movable. therein, means'to allow liquid to pass said plunger, means to allow gaseous fluid to enter said tube below said plunger, a valve controlling the entrance of said pressure fluid, means tending to open said valve and means controlled by said valve to fire said gaseous pressure fluid.

6. In a pressure fluid operated pump, an eduction tube. a plunger freely movable therein, means to allow liquid to pass said plunger. means to allow gaseous pressure fluid to enter said tube below said plunger, a valve routrolling the entrance of said pressure fluid. a spring tending to open said valve, am

means controlled by said valve to fire said mixture and moving said plunger and its load gaseous pressure fluid.

7. In a pressure fluid operatedpump, an eduction tube, a plunger freely movable therein, means to allow liquid to pass said plunger, means to allow gaseous pressure fluid to enter said tube below said plunger, a valve controlling the entrance of said pressure fluid, a spring tending to open said valve, and means controlled bysai d valve to fire said gaseous pressure fluid, said last named means acting only after said valve has been opened a predetermined interval.

8. In aressure fluid operated pump, an

eduction tu e, a plunger freely movable therein, means to allow liquid to pass said plunger, means to allow gaseous pressure fluid to enter said tube ,below said plunger, a valve controlling the entrance of said pressure fluid,

means tending to open said valve, and means controlled by said valve to fire said gaseous pressure fluid and means controlling said firing means to delay its operation a predetermined interval after said valve has opened.

9. In a pressure fluid operated pump, an eduction tube, a plunger freely movable therein, means to allow liquid to pass said plunger, means to allow gaseous pressure fluid to enter said tube below said plunger, a valve confrom the well bottom to the top in one continuous stroke.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 1st day of May A. D. 1929. NORMAN H. RICKER.

trolling the entrance of said pressure fluid,

means tending to open said valve, and means controlled by said valve to fire said gaseous pressure fluid, inclu ling a spark plug in the gaseous fluid line, a switch controlling the passage of electric current thereto, said switch being closed by the opening of said valve.

. 10. An air lift pump including an eduction tube, a plunger freely movable therein, and means to supplygaseous air and fuel below said plunger, in combination with means responsive to the head of liquid above said plunger to fire the said fuel to move said plunger.

11. An air lift pump including an eduction tube, a plunger freely movable therein, a pipe to supply gaseous fuel and air to the lower end of said eduction tube to move the plunger, and a valve in said pipe, in combination with means actuated by the opening of said valve to ignite said fuel.

12; An air lift pump including an eduction tube, a plunger freely movable therein, a pipe to supply gaseous fuel and air to the lower end of said eduction tube, and a valve in said pipe. in combination with means actuated by the opening of said valve to ignite said fuel, said valve being opened in response to the liquid head above said plunger.

13. In a pump including an eduction tube and aplunger freely movable therein from the intake at the well bottom to the outlet at the top thereof, the method of raising said plunger and its load of liquid to the surface comprising introducing an explosive gaseous mixture below said plunger and igniting said 

